Orthopedic appliance for curing knock-knees, &amp;c.



PATENTED JAN. 16, 1906.

0, SEMELEDER.

NOE FOR 01mm KNOCK KNEES, &0.

ORTHOPEDIG APPLIA APPLICATION FILED MAY27. 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSKAR SEMELEDER, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

ORTHOPEDIC APPLIANCE FOR CURING KNOCK-KNEES, 8m.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 16, 1906.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OSKAR SEMELEDER, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at Vienna, in the Province of Lower Austria and Empire of Austria Hungary, have invented new and useful Improvements in Orthopedic Appliances for Curing Knock- Knees, Bandy -Legs, Flat Feet, and Club- Feet, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to orthopedic appliances, and is especially designed for curing deformities in legs, such as knock-knees, bandy-legs, flat feet, club-feet, and the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device secured to the foot and the calf member of the leg which will have a fulcrum engagement with the ground or floor at a point or line to one side of the end of the foot, whereby to tend to throw the leg in the opposite direction, tending to straighten the curvature or bend in the member.

According to the invention the apparatus is combined with a shoe of any desired form, but which is provided with a hollowcollapsible heel instead of the ordinary solid heel. The heel is provided with a bottom member that is pivoted along one side and is normally retained parallel with the bottom of the foot by a suitable spring member. A brace extends from the bottom of the shoe up to the knee-joint, where it is suitably secured to the leg, preferably by a strap. The brace is also provided with a hinged jointadjacent to the ankle-joint.

In the accompanying drawings, showing one embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is avertioal section through the heel member. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the heel-plate somewhat closed. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the heel member shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the device attached to a shoe.

The brace for the device comprises an arm 2, pivoted to an arm 4 at 3 and secured to the leg by strap or band 5. If a plate is pivoted to the lower arm 2 of the brace and pressure applied downward, the plate being fulcrumed at A, the force would tend to move the leg laterally.

In Figs. 1 to 4, the rear portion of the shoe 1 27 has secured instead of the usual heel a hollow member comprising a plate 17, that is made fast to the bottom of the shoe by means of screws 18 passing through the shoe into a plate 19. To the latter plate is secured the lower member 2 of the brace. The lower member of the hollow heel is a plate 26, that is connected with the plate 17 by means of flexible sides 25, preferably of soft leather. At one side of the heel an upright plate 14 is provided, that is rigidly connected with the plate 17 by any suitable means, such as tongues 15, entering grooves 16 in the plate. The plate 23 is hinged to the lower edge of the plate at 22 by means of tongues 21 fitting loosely in slots 20 in the plate 23. The lower plates 23 and 26 are retained normally parallel with the plate 17 by means of a bent spring-plate 24, as shown in Fig. 1 but upon pressure being applied downward to the shoe it will rock on the line A as a pivot to the position shown in Fig. 2, as the line A will be outside of the central line of force. The brace will have its lower arm 2 extend through the shoe, as shown in Fig. 4.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In an orthopedic appliance, the combination of a shoe member, a brace secured to the shoe member and extending upward along the leg, means for securing the brace to the leg at its upper end, and a heel member pivotally secured to the rear of the shoe and arranged to swing upward flom a position normally parallel with the shoe-bottom, and in it pivotal line located at one side of the 2. In an orthopedic appliance, the combi nation with a shoe of a collapsible heel member having its bottom member pivoted along one of the lateral sides to swing upward from a position parallel with the shoe-bottom, a spring tending to normally retain the bottom member in parallel position, and a jointed brace secured to the shoe for attachment to the leg of the wearer.

3. In an orthopedic appliance, the combination of a shoe, an upright plate rigidly secured along one of the lateral sides and extending downward, a plate pivotally connected with the lower edge of the upright plate, a strap arranged to secure the upper end of a plate secured to the bottom of said pivoted the brace to the leg. 10 plate, a spring tending to retain the latter In Witness whereof I have signed this plates parallel with the bottom of the shoe, specification in presence of two Witnesses.

a flexible member connecting the lower plates OSKAR SEMELEDER.

with the shoe-bottom and inclosing the spring lVitnesses:

member and upright plate, a jointed brace se- VICTOR KEGEL,

cured to the shoe and extending upward, and ALVEsTo S HOGUE. 

